Blueberry plant named ‘Norman’

ABSTRACT

Description and specifications of a new and distinct blueberry cultivar named ‘Norman’ which originated from seed produced by a hand-pollinated cross of USDA blueberry selection G-566 (non-patented, unreleased genotype)×‘Legacy’ (non-patented, released genotype) is provided. This new blueberry cultivar can be distinguished by high fruit quality including excellent picking scar, color, firmness and flavor along with excellent plant health and vigor.

Latin name: Vaccinium corymbosum L.

BACKGROUND

The new cultivar of blueberry called ‘Norman’ is described herein. Thenew cultivar originated from a hand-pollinated cross of USDA blueberryselection G-566×‘Legacy’ made at Beltsville, Md. in 1985. Seedlings weregrown and shipped to Fayetteville, Ark. in late winter of 1986 andplanted in a field there in early spring of the same year. The seedlingsfruited in the summer of 1989 and one seedling, designated ‘A-272’herein described as ‘Norman’, was selected for major characteristicsincluding high fruit quality including excellent picking scar, color,firmness and flavor along with excellent plant health and vigor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct cultivar of blueberry originated from ahand-pollinated cross of USDA blueberry selection G-566 (non-patented,unreleased genotype; female)×‘Legacy’ (non-patented, released genotype;male) made in 1985 at Beltsville, Md. The botanical designation of thenew cultivar of blueberry is Vacinnium corymbosum L., as that is theprimary species in its background, although there are other species inthe pedigree including V. darrowii Camp and V. angustifolium Aiton.

Seedlings were grown and shipped to Fayetteville, Ark. (NorthwestArkansas) in late winter of 1986 and planted in a field there in earlyspring of the same year. The seedlings fruited in the summer of 1989 andone seedling, designated ‘A-272’ herein described as ‘Norman’, wasselected for major characteristics including high fruit qualityincluding excellent picking scar, color, firmness and flavor along withexcellent plant health and vigor.

The original selected plant was removed from the seedling field andestablished at the same location (Fayetteville, Ark.). In 1997, hardwoodcuttings were collected from this plant and an additional plantingconsisting of eight plants in a replicated trial were established nearClarksville, Ark. (West-central Arkansas). An additional eight plantswere established in a replicated trial at Fayetteville, Ark. in 2001that resulted from hardwood cuttings collected in 1999 from the originalselected plant. Subsequently, the cultivar was propagated from hardwoodcuttings from the Fayetteville, Ark. original selected plant at testplots in Aurora, Oreg., Oxnard, Calif. and Delano, Calif.

The new cultivar has been asexually multiplied since 2007 by the use ofboth hardwood cuttings. During all asexual multiplication, thecharacteristics of the original plant have been maintained and noaberrant phenotypes have appeared.

Test plantings over a wide geographic area have shown this new cultivarto be adapted and productive at both Arkansas locations as well asAurora, Oreg. and Delano, Calif. locations. It did not show adaptationat Oxnard, Calif. as adequate chilling was not achieved for good plantperformance.

The primary comparisons of ‘Norman’ have been with the cultivars‘Ozarkblue’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,035) and ‘Bluecrop’ (not patented)in a planting near Clarksville, Ark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new cultivarin color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a colorillustration of this character.

FIG. 1 is a photograph taken in mid-June of a mature 11 year old plantof ‘Norman’, near Clarksville, Ark.

FIG. 2 is a photograph taken in late-June of fruits borne on a terminalbranch near Clarksville, Ark. of ‘Norman’.

FIG. 3 is a photograph taken of mature fruits of ‘Norman’ showing wholeand cut berries.

FIG. 4 is a photograph showing the adaxial (upper) and abaxial (lower)sides of leaves of ‘Norman’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘NORMAN’

Plants and fruit of this new cultivar differ phenotypically from itsparents. The new cultivar is more productive and has healthier plants,has lighter fruit color, is firmer and has improved flavor compared tofemale parent USDA Selection G-566. It has fruit that is lighter incolor and firmer than male parent ‘Legacy’. The new cultivar and itsprogenitors phenotypically exhibit characters predominately of thehighbush blueberry species, Vaccinium corymbosum (highbush blueberry).The new cultivar of blueberry is an interspecific hybrid, derived fromcrossing three Vaccinium species: V. angustifolium, V. corymbosum, andV. darrowi. The new cultivar phenotypically exhibits plant and fruitcharacters predominately of the highbush blueberry, Vacciniumcorymbosum, but may possess genes for wider environmental and soiladaptability characteristic of it's V. angustifolium and V. darrowiprogenitors.

Plants of the new cultivar are moderately vigorous, with vigorratings/observations similar to those for ‘Bluecrop’ and ‘Ozarkblue’.The chilling requirement of the cultivar has not been fully determined,but is estimated to be approximately 500 hours (hours below 7° C./45°F.). It is lower chilling than the comparison cultivars ‘Ozarkblue’ and‘Bluecrop’ as indicated by its earlier budbreak in late winter; thesetwo cultivars have a chilling requirement of 800 hours or more. ‘Norman’did not perform well in an area of chill of approximately 300 hours(Oxnard, Calif.). No diseases were observed on the plants although stemblight [Botryosphaeria dothidea (Mouq. ex Fr.) Ces & de Not] has beenobserved at the evaluation site near Clarksville, Ark. No fruit diseaseswere observed, despite the plants having no fungicide applicationsduring evaluation in Arkansas.

Flower bud swell of the new cultivar averaged 17 February nearClarksville, Ark., earlier compared to 10 to 14 March for ‘Bluecrop’ and‘Ozarkblue’. Bloom date (50% bloom) averaged 31 March, earlier than‘Bluecrop’ of 10 April and ‘Ozarkblue’ of 13 April. The earlier budswell resulted in late winter freeze damage to developing buds in someyears in Arkansas.

Average 10% ripe fruit of the new cultivar is 3 June, near that of‘Bluecrop’ and 5 days before ‘Ozarkblue’. Fruit yields of the newcultivar are up to 3.8 kg/plant (8.4 lb), compared to 2.9 kg/plant (6.4lb) for ‘Bluecrop’, and 7.5 kg/plant (16.5 lb) for ‘Ozarkblue’ inWest-Central Arkansas.

The fruit is oblate. Berries are light blue in color with whitish waxybloom on fruit surface and have outstanding appearance. Berries aremedium-large to large (1.5-2.2 g). The stem scar of the fruit is smallerthan ‘Bluecrop’ and similar to ‘Ozarkblue’. Fruit firmness was ratedhigher than ‘Bluecrop’ or ‘Ozarkblue’, a major attribute of ‘Norman’.Fruit firmness measurements were very high before and after 14 days ofstorage. The storage (shipping) potential of fresh fruit of the newcultivar is very high due to this firmness.

The fresh fruit is very good in flavor. The fresh fruit was morearomatic and sweeter than ‘Bluecrop’. Its flavor is less acidic than‘Ozarkblue’. The soluble solids concentration averages 9.7 to 10.7% onripe fruit. Seeds average 65/berry and are small and soft.

The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomologicalcharacteristics of the subject blueberry. Color data are presented inRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart designations (1986 2ndedition). Where dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics aregiven, it is to be understood that such characteristics areapproximations of averages set forth as accurately as practicable.

Plants used for botanical data were 11 years old and grown on a finesandy loam soil with trickle irrigation near Clarksville, Ark. Theplants were fertilized near budbreak (late March on average) withcomplete or nitrogen fertilizer, and had an additional nitrogenfertilizer application in early July. Weeds were controlled with pre-and post-emergence herbicides supplemented with mechanical weed controlactivities. The descriptions reported herein are from specimens grownnear Clarksville, Ark. unless otherwise noted.

-   Plant:    -   -   Size.—Medium; similar to other highbush blueberry varieties.            Height: 120 cm. Width: 110 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Upright; moderate vigor; moderate cane            production from crown.        -   Productivity.—3.8 kg/plant (8.4 lb).        -   Cold hardiness.—Hardy to −18° C. (0° F.) or possibly lower.            Early bud swell has resulted in frost damage to developing            buds and subsequent early flowers in some years in Arkansas.        -   Chilling requirement.—Approximately 500 hours (hours below            7° C./45° F.).        -   Canes.—Cane mature/5-7 years of age (dormant): diameter at            cane base: 2.01 cm; diameter at cane midpoint 1.25 cm;            diameter at cane terminus: 0.48 cm. Cane one-year-old            (dormant): diameter at cane base: 0.73 cm; diameter at            midpoint: 0.57 cm; diameter at terminus: 0.37 cm. Mature            cane color (dormant): base: Greyed-green 197-A; midpoint:            Greyed-green 197-A; terminus: Grayed-orange group 166-B.            One-year-old cane color (dormant): base: Greyed-orange            174-A; midpoint: Greyed-orange 174-A; terminus: Greyed-brown            199-A to Greyed-orange 165-B.        -   Branch/stem.—Current seasons growth at the end of the            growing season: Leaf internode length: 1.42 cm. Average stem            length: 20.0 cm. Stem pubescence: none. Average number of            flower buds: 5.3.        -   Disease resistance.—No diseases were observed on the plants            despite the plants having no fungicide applications during            evaluation in Arkansas.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaves.—Size: Medium. Mature leaf diameter: 2.53 cm. Length:            6.66 cm. Mature leaf color: base abaxial: Yellow-green group            147-C; base adaxial: Green group 137-A; midpoint abaxial:            Yellow-green group 147-C; midpoint adaxial: Green group            132-A; terminal abaxial: Yellow-green group 147-C; terminal            adaxial-Green group 137-A. Mature leaf shape: lanceolate;            tip: acute; base: cuneate. Evergreen/deciduous: deciduous.            Mature leaf pubescence: abaxial: none; adaxial: none. Leaf            serration: no serration visible; entire.        -   Petiole.—Length: 0.37 cm. Color: Yellow green group 144-B.-   Flowers:    -   -   Date of flower bud swell (stage 2).—17 February.        -   Date of bloom.—10%; full: 31 March.        -   Inflorescence size.—Medium.        -   Corolla color.—White group 155-D.        -   Corolla shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: erect, numerous; Pistils: one            per flower; Calyx: 5 lobed.        -   Pollen.—Normal and abundant.        -   Average number of flowers per cluster.—5.6.        -   Average flower length.—9.40 mm.        -   Average flower width.—5.76 mm.        -   Number of petals per flower.—5, fused to form a corolla            tube.        -   Average pedicel length.—5.08 mm.        -   Pedicel color.—Yellow-green group 144-A.        -   Number of sepals.—5, fused.        -   Sepal color.—Green group 143-C.        -   Number of stamens.—10.        -   Anther color.—Grayed orange group 165-B.        -   Stigma color.—Yellow green group 153-C.        -   Average stigma length.—0.63 mm.-   Fruit:    -   -   Size.—Medium-large. Weight: 1.5-2.2 g. Diameter: Primary            fruit at equator: 1.41 cm. Thickness of primary fruit (scar            to mid-calyx): 1.09 cm. Secondary fruit at equator: 1.62 cm.            Thickness of secondary fruit (scar to mid-calyx): 1.21 cm.            Tertiary fruit at equator: 1.59 cm. Thickness of fruit (scar            to mid-calyx): 1.19 cm.        -   Maturity.—Average 10% ripe date: June 3. Average period of            ripening: June 3 to June 20.        -   Shape.—Oblate, uniform.        -   Firmness.—Berries are very firm, with firmness of 2.2 N at            harvest compared to 1.3 N for Bluecrop, Ozarkblue and            Summit.        -   Color.—Bloom undisturbed (with whitish wax bloom on            surface): Violet-blue 95-D. Bloom removed: Black group            202-A. Unripe fruit flesh: yellow-green group 145C and            unripe fruit skin yellow-green group 145A. Ripe fruit color:            yellow green group 145C.        -   Pedicel scar size.—Small, 2.12 mm.        -   Soluble solids.—10.7% brix.        -   pH.—3.32.        -   Total acidity.—0.4 g/100 mL expressed as citric acid.        -   Berries per cluster.—=5.6.        -   Density of fruit cluster.—Medium.        -   Fruiting type.—Fruits on one year old shoots only.        -   Storage potential.—Berries have good storage potential as            they did not decline in firmness in 14 days of storage at 5°            C.        -   Calyx.—Width: =4.6 mm. Depth: =1.3 mm.-   Seeds:    -   -   Weight (wet).—0.40 mg.        -   Weight (dry).—0.24 mg.        -   Length.—1.65 mm.        -   Width.—0.81 mm.        -   Size.—Small, soft.        -   Number per berry.—65.        -   Color (wet).—Grayed orange group 166-B.        -   Color (dry).—Grayed orange group 166-B.        -   Self-compatibility.—Not tested.-   Uses: Fresh, ideal for shipping and local sales markets.-   The cultivar: The most distinctive features of the cultivar are high    fruit quality including excellent picking scar, color, firmness and    flavor along with excellent plant health and vigor.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of blueberry plant named‘Norman’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.